8 Unforgettable Things to do in Quito, Ecuador!

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a vibrant city nestled in the Andes mountains at an elevation of 9,350 feet (2850 meters). The city offers a great mix of cultural, historical and natural attractions, with stunning colonial architecture, bustling markets and breathtaking views from the surrounding mountains. It’s the perfect base for exploring Ecuador’s natural beauty through day trips. Or, if you’re up for an adventure, it can be a good starting point for an exciting Ecuador roadtrip.

This blog post includes the best things to do in Quito, Ecuador, along with practical information like how to get there and where to stay. If you’re planning to visit other parts of Ecuador, check out my other Ecuador blog posts for inspiration and must-know tips!

• Epic 10-day Ecuador Roadtrip Itinerary
• 10-day Ecuador Solo Travel Itinerary (No Car Needed!)
• Honest Review of The Secret Garden Cotopaxi
• 8 Essential Ecuador Travel Tips
• 5 Can’t-Miss Things to do in Baños, Ecuador
• 8 Unforgettable Things to do in Quito, Ecuador!
• White Water Rafting in Baños Ecuador

Is Quito Safe for Solo Travelers?

If you are traveling solo in Quito, or Ecuador in general, keep in mind that there are parts of the city that are not safe and there’s some safety precautions you should take. I did not personally travel solo in Ecuador, so I cannot give my personal experience or first-hand tips. These are some safety precautions that we followed, even traveling as a group…

• Firstly, it’s not recommended to walk on the street at night. The Centro Historico is a must-visit during the day, but at night it becomes less safe, so you should not walk alone after dark.
• Do not hail taxis off the street. Instead, use a secure ride-share app like Uber or if necessary ask your hotel to call a taxi for you.
• Try to blend in by dressing modestly and avoid wearing flashy jewelry and displaying valuables, like your phone, in plain site. In general, just be aware of your surroundings.

If you’re staying in a hostel like the Secret Garden, you will likely meet other solo travelers that you can explore the city with, or you can join their daily tours to popular parts of the city. They also have events at night, a great rooftop, a restaurant, so you won’t need to go out at night alone.

For a full Ecuador solo travel guide, check out my 10-day solo travel Ecuador itinerary here.

Getting to Quito, Ecuador

As Ecuador’s capital, Quito is well-connected with both international and domestic flights. You’ll find direct flights from the US on airlines like Jetblue and Avianca. Search for the cheapest flights here on Booking.com.

Quito’s airport, Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), is about 25 miles, or 1 hour from the center of the city. From the airport you can take a taxi, Uber, private transfer or a bus. I would recommend taking an Uber over a taxi as its safer and slightly cheaper. We took an Uber, which cost about $16. If you would like to book a private transfer ahead of time, this is a great option.

How long should you stay in Quito?

To do everything on this list, you should stay in Quito for at least 2 days. This will give you more than enough time to explore the Centro Historico and visit El Teleferico and La Mitad del Mundo. However, if you have more time I would recommend staying 3 days so you can explore a few different neighborhoods or take a day trip to the nearby Mindo Cloud Forest or Otavalo Market. We stayed in Quito 2 nights (but had 2 full days since we arrived in the early morning) and I left wishing we had one more day in the city.

Where to stay in Quito, Ecuador

When choosing where to stay in Quito, you should try to stick to the neighborhoods Centro Historico, La Mariscal and La Carolina, because they are safe and within walking distance to many attractions.

Hotels in Quito

Hotel Patio Andaluz
A beautiful hotel in Centro Historico, housed in a colonial-style building.

Le Parc Hotel, Beyond Stars
A luxury hotel (but still very affordable) in the La Carolina neighborhood. This neighborhood is about a 20 minute drive from the Centro Historico, but it’s a bit quieter and more residential.

Hostels in Quito

The Secret Garden
If you’re traveling by yourself and plan on going to stay at The Secret Garden Cotopaxi after your time in Quito, you should definitely stay at their hostel in the city. It’s close to the historic center, there’s a great rooftop, and they run daily tours around the city.

Community Hostel
Another highly rated hostel close to the city center, great for solo travelers and budget travelers.

Apartments in Quito

Apartamento 32 Juana de Arco
This apartment is where we stayed in Quito and it was a great option for 4 people. It had 3 bedrooms, a kitchen and a washing machine. It was in a great location, about a 5 minute walk from Plaza de Santo Domingo. I highly recommend it if you’re traveling in a group.

Departamento junto a La Carolina
This apartment is located in La Carolina neighborhood, right next to La Carolina Park. It has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a washing machine, making it another great options for those travelling a group.

Things to do in Quito, Ecuador

Walking Tour of the Centro Histórico

A walking tour is always a great way to explore a new city on the day you arrive, and Quito’s Centro Historico is no exception. This neighborhood is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is known for having beautifully preserved colonial architecture, vibrant plazas and towering cathedrals.

We did this free (tip-based) walking tour on GuruWalk, which started at The Basilica del Voto Nacional and took us through Plaza Grande, Plaza de Santo Domingo and Plaza San Francisco. Along the way the guide pointed out important buildings and taught us about the history of Quito & Ecuador in general. We also stopped at an amazing Ecuadorian chocolate shop for a tasting (more on this below) and got some recommendations for the best places to eat in Quito, which was much appreciated!

Tips: Quito walking tours will typically last around 3 hours. Make sure to bring an umbrella or a rain jacket- the weather in Quito can be unpredictable (we ended up buying a $10 umbrella to avoid getting soaked on our tour!). If you are doing a free tour on GuruWalk like we did, it’s recommended to leave a tip of about $10-20 per person.

Guided Tour: Free Quito Walking Tour, candies/chocolate/ ice cream tasting & Spanish Lesson on GuruWalk or Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings on GetYourGuide

Basilica del Voto Nacional

The Basilica del Voto Nacional, which you will likely visit on your walking tour, stands tall in Quito’s Centro Histórico. Although this may look like a normal Gothic cathedral at first glance, if you look a bit closer you’ll see the gargoyles are unique to Ecuador. They feature Ecuadorian wildlife such as iguanas, condors and turtles. I loved that our tour guide pointed this out as I would not have noticed it myself!

You can also visit the inside of the basilica to see the beautiful soaring ceilings and stained glass windows. And for a great view of Quito’s cityscape, don’t miss climbing the towers!

Tips: Entry to the basilica costs $2 and climbing the towers is an additional $4.

Read More: 8 Essential Ecuador Travel Tips

El TelefériQo

El TeleferiQo (a play on the words teleferico & Quito) is one of the highest cable cars in the world. In 20 minutes, it takes you up to the slopes of Pichincha Volcano, at over 13,000 feet. You’ll see breathtaking views of Quito’s skyline and the surrounding Andes mountains. We heard that on a clear day you can even see Cotopaxi volcano in the distance!

Once you’re at the top, there’s a few different hiking trails you can choose from, including one that takes you all the way to the summit of the Pichincha Volcano. This trail takes about 6 hours roundtrip and includes some scrambling, so make sure you come prepared with lots of water and good hiking shoes. We decided to only walk a couple miles and followed signs for “Columbio en las nubes”, or the swing in the clouds. On the way we took a picture with these llamas, which is one of my favorite pictures from my time in Ecuador!

Tips: To get to the first TeleferiQo station, take an quick Uber from the city center. The cable car costs $9 roundtrip. If you want a clear view, avoid visiting in the afternoon when it tends to get more cloudy.

Guided Tour: Quito: Quito Cable Car on Pichincha Volcano

La Mitad del Mundo

La Mitad del Mundo is an iconic landmark located on the Equator. You can climb to the top of the monument for sweeping views of the surrounding area and visit the small museum to learn about Ecuador’s geography and indigenous culture. In the surrounding courtyard and park, you’ll find food, shopping and traditional Ecuadorian dancing.

If you want to learn more about the Equator, take a short walk to the Intiñan Museum. Here you can participate in fun Equator experiments, like balancing an egg on a nail or watching how water drains in a different direction in each hemisphere.

Tips: La Mitad del Mundo is located about 45 minutes outside of Quito, so you can take an Uber to get there. Entry to La Mitad del Mundo is $5 and the Intiñan Museum is $4.

Guided Tour: Quito: Middle of the World and Volcano Tour

Yumbos Chocolate

We visited this chocolate shop on our walking tour and I think it’s a must visit so I’m including it on this list! Visit Yumbos for a tour and tasting experience, where you’ll try all of their unique chocolate flavors. They have a small cafe where you can order chocolate tea, hot chocolate and brownies. Or just take a quick visit to buy some chocolate bars. We bought about 10 bars of chocolate and they were almost all gone by the end of our trip!

Tips: The shop is located right on Plaza San Fransisco, and there a great view of the plaza from their terrace!

Virgen del Panecillo

El Virgen del Panecillo is a towering statue of the Virgin Mary located on top of El Panecillo hill. It’s visible from the Centro Historico, making it one of Quito’s most recognizable landmarks. I highly recommend making the trip up there as it’s quite impressive up close, where you can see the over 7,000 pieces of aluminum that it’s made of. You can also climb up to the top of the monument, but we opted not to as the views from the base were good enough. In the area surrounding the monument you’ll find a few souvenir shops and cafes.

Tips: The walk leading up to El Panecillo is not safe, so it’s best to take a taxi or Uber directly up to the site.

Runa Tula Andina Restaurant

We were recommended this restaurant by our tour guide and it was our favorite meal in Quito! Located in the Centro Historico, they serve traditional Ecuadorian dishes and have a full vegetarian menu which I really appreciated. The service was great and we loved the decor inside.

Take a Day Trip out of the Quito

If you’re not planning on doing an Ecuador roadtrip (which I highly recommend you do, follow my itinerary here!), then you should most definitely take some day trips out of Quito to explore more of what Ecuador has to offer. Ecuador is a small country so some of the most popular attractions, such as Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, and Baños, are just a few hours away from Quito. Here are some of the best, highly rated tours on GetYourGuide!

As you can see, Quito is a beautiful city that blends history, culture and nature in a really interesting way. Its variety of attractions make it an essential stop on any trip to Ecuador! Whether you’re just staying for a couple days or using it as a base to explore more of Ecuador, Quito will definitely leave you with unforgettable memories!